The Colosseum At Caesars Palace Celebrates 20 Years As ‘Home Of The Greatest Entertainers In The World’

When Celine Dion signed a three-year contract to perform at Caesars Palace’s new theatre starting in 2003, setting up shop in Las Vegas was seen by some as a risky move in her career. At that time, residencies at casino hotels were widely regarded as the purview of lounge acts and once-shining stars who could no longer do big business on the road.   

Dion’s “A New Day…” residency turned out to be a huge sensation for the celebrated Canadian singer and went on to influence the stature of residencies in Vegas and beyond. The Colosseum at Caesars Palace – which was built specifically for Dion – has earned its nickname as the “Home of the Greatest Entertainers in the World” by hosting some of the biggest artists across genres.  

“The Celine show was really pioneering – an artist who started a residency at the height of her career and at the time there was really nothing like it in Las Vegas,” says Jason Gastwirth, president of entertainment at Caesars Entertainment. “Certainly there was this great history of residencies, if you think [of] the Rat Pack and Elvis, but on the contemporary side of things, that was really groundbreaking. … It led to Elton John coming next and really establishing an idea that those that were doing really strong touring business could think about sitting down in one theatre in Las Vegas and establishing a presence that way.” 

The first year of Dion’s residency earned her the second spot on Pollstar’s 2003 Year End Chart, with $80.5 million grossed from 145 reported dates. Box office revenue from the show, which ran through 2007, ultimately topped $385 million.

In March The Colosseum celebrated its 20th anniversary. Along with Dion (who returned to the venue in March 2011 for her second residency, “Celine,” which ran through June 2019) and Elton, other legendary artists who have held residencies at the iconic venue over the years include Bette Midler, Cher, Rod Stewart, Shania Twain, Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn, Mariah Carey, Usher and Jerry Seinfeld. The venue has also boasted multiple nights with Gloria Estefan, Stevie Nicks, Luis Miguel, Janet Jackson, Enrique Iglesias, Madonna and the Backstreet Boys.  

Adele has spent a good portion of 2023 on stage at The Colosseum after launching her first residency, the critically acclaimed “Weekends With Adele,” in November 2022. And after previously playing an acoustic residency for over four years at the Wynn (December 2009 through January 2014), Garth Brooks kicked off his “Garth Brooks/Plus ONE” residency at The Colosseum in May. 

“The whole year has been a celebration, it’s really a banner year for The Colosseum. … It’s really wonderful to see the culmination of the vision that occurred two decades ago and what this venue has become. … We have relationships with Rod Stewart and Jerry Seinfeld that span decades of continuous involvement with us. And this year alone, having Adele and Garth Brooks – two stadium-level artists, playing in the theatre – is something we’re really proud of,” Gastwirth says. 

As for which artists are a good candidate for a residency? Gastwirth says, “One good rule of thumb is that you can call them by one name – that usually works pretty well. … And that they have a vast catalog of music; an avid fanbase [as] fans have to travel to go see them versus the touring model where the artist is visiting the fans.”

To go along with the Roman Empire-themed look of Caesars Palace, The Colosseum was built as a round building that mimics the shape of the ancient amphitheater in Rome. The 4,300-seat venue, which has a 15,700 square-foot stage and 156 speakers, offers an intimate experience with no seats more than 145 feet from the stage. The Colosseum underwent a renovation in 2019 (the same year the venue entered a co-promotion agreement with Live Nation) that included a “first-of-its-kind modular seating capability via an automated lift system, allowing for immense viewing flexibility, enhanced show offerings, and more immersive fan interactions.”

During Adele’s opening night at The Colosseum, she praised the up-close-and-personal vibe, saying “I couldn’t be with you all like this if we were in a stadium,” according to a review from Harper’s Bazaar that declared the residency “captures a pop star at her peak.”

“Weekends with Adele” is booked through Nov. 4. Dates for “Garth Brooks/Plus ONE” are scheduled through Dec. 6, with leg two starting in April 2024. Rod Stewart’s next shows are in November and Seinfeld is also set to return in April.

Caesars Entertainment operates roughly 50 venues across North America with 10 ticketed buildings in Las Vegas. The Sin City properties include the Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood, which just announced it is hosting Shania Twain’s new residency, “Come On Over – The Las Vegas Residency – All The Hits!” starting May 10, 2024. Bakkt Theater’s 2023 residencies include Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban and Kelly Clarkson.